Oregon Student Association
Founded in 1975, OSA is a coalition of student governments dedicated to the representation, service, and protection of the collective interests of over 100,000 students in postsecondary education.
Publications
Internet Digest
February 13, 2007
Claiming Interest on Our Own Dollars: Student Priorities for Returning Interest Earnings on Tuition to OUS
Students are currently paying more than ever for a college degree. Each university student pays thousands of dollars in tuition that is deposited into the state Treasury. Like any money in the bank, these tuition dollars earn interest. But unlike most investments, students don’t get to see the interest that their tuition dollars accrue. Currently in Oregon, the interest on student tuition dollars is directed to other departments.
The Governor has taken an historical step by directing interest earnings on tuition, which are approximately $19 million, back to the Oregon University System (OUS). However, the Governor’s Recommended Budget also reduces general fund support for OUS by the same amount.
Students are concerned that reducing the state’s contribution to OUS through the General Fund and replacing it with interest earnings on tuition only furthers the trend of paying for the cost of college on the backs of students. Instead, students are advocating for their tuition dollars to fund areas of our universities that have been neglected due to years of state disinvestment:
•$10 million for student services: A recent survey conducted by OUS found less than half of 2005 OUS institution graduates to be satisfied with academic support services.
•$6 million for faculty salaries: Oregon campuses have difficulty recruiting and retaining talented faculty because OUS faculty salaries are on average 15 percent lower than our university peers.
•$3 million to buy down resource fees: Students in certain majors are currently paying hundreds of dollars in extra resource fees. These fees are not factored into a students’ financial aid and cause a huge financial burden for students.
Students unveiled these priorities for interest earnings on their tuition dollars at the hearing before the House Revenue Committee on February 7th.
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635 NE Dekum St.
Portland, OR 97211
Phone: 503-286-0477
Fax: 503-286-0924
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Site last updated on 07/07/2008 at 09:52 AM.
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